New Haven’s Central Fire Headquarters at 952 Grand Avenue, was constructed in 1961 as part of the Wooster Square Redevelopment Project, a targeted urban renewal plan to revitalize the historic neighborhood. Architect Earl Carlin and his associates, Peter Millard and Paul Pozzi, were hired to design a functional yet streamlined and powerful municipal building to serve as a symbolic gateway into a neighborhood the City wished to revitalize. The fortress-like structure is built of exposed cast-in-place concrete and features strong geometric forms with four corner towers that anchor the main block and vary in height. The fire station’s smooth concrete flanks are scored with subtle vertical grooves which help to provide additional intrigue and depth. Inside, the first level holds space for fire trucks and equipment while the second floor contains office space and the firefighters’ residences. The New Haven Fire Department Headquarters is significant as an early and well-designed example of the often maligned Brutalist style, and as a visual landmark that tells the story of the period of Urban Renewal in New Haven post-war and is holding up quite well!